If you have ever done yoga, perhaps you understand the healing benefits of meditation and desire to bring that energy to a class of your own but don’t quite know where to get started. Meditation isn’t just about sitting and breathing; there are many steps to engaging your participants so that everyone experiences the power of meditation.
The process for getting started in deepening your yoga meditation studies and teaching can begin with these three best meditation courses on Yoga International are:
- The 40-Day Kirtan Kriya Meditation Challenge
- The Mystery and Power of Mantra
- Mindfulness Meditation Step-by-Step
While each of these three courses brings a different level of understanding and emphasis depending on the discipline, they all are excellent for anyone wanting to evolve their yoga meditation practice and teaching. This article will help you decide which of the three best is the best one for your meditation goals.
Table of Contents
Who is Yoga International?
Yoga International started its journey in 2012 as a print magazine; recently, it has switched to an online-based yoga platform created by Todd Wolfenberg. His mission is to help people live happier and healthier lives by making yoga accessible to anyone and everyone.
This yoga platform offers over 400,000 customers globally courses, programs, podcasts, and instructional videos in the comfort of their homes from over 500 teachers who are experts in numerous disciplines of yoga.
Those passionate about yoga can sign up for a Yoga International membership, become an instructor themselves or take classes and courses at their own pace using any mobile or electronic device.
Does Yoga International Have Live Classes?
Yes, Yoga International does have live classes. However, this benefit is only available to Yoga International Plus members via the Move Together Live platform. This platform allows members to enjoy their favorite instructors on a virtual live stream every day with a featured themed discipline of yoga.
Members can filter through a number of classes based on,
- Length
- Level of difficulty
- Favorite instructor
- Type of yoga class
There are several options for choosing a membership; the first is a 14-day free trial, monthly or an annual membership.
With the 14-day trial, customers will have availability to any courses that have been purchased or perhaps gifted to them and a limited amount of access to other classes. Users on the trial basis membership will be blocked from accessing member-only courses until the trial period is over and they choose a plan to move forward.
A month-to-month membership will cost $19.99 a month. However, an additional fifty percent off can be knocked off that monthly fee if you choose to pay annually instead. With one full year paid upfront, the monthly payment will now be $9.99.
Once a membership is purchased, users can download the Yoga International application on their TV or mobile/computer devices to enjoy classes and courses at their leisure.
There are some excellent benefits for members when it comes to classes and courses, and those include but are not limited to,
- Classes run in a one month or three-month series
- Every four to five weeks, new instructors and yoga disciplines are offered
- All experience level classes are available
- Lessons are anywhere from five minutes up to an hour
- Tutorials offered are on poses for standing, sitting, twists, inversions, and backbends
While access to Yoga International’s live classes is limited to members only, those desiring to experience what a class would be like should take advantage of their 14-day free trial period. This can inspire future members to join the ever-expanding team of yogis already experiencing the joys of Yoga International’s classes and courses.
The 3 Best Meditation Courses On Yoga International
Before diving into the three best meditation courses on Yoga International, here is a bit more information pertaining to what they offer to those wanting to expand their yoga knowledge, practice, and instruction.
With over 1900 classes currently available and growing, Yoga International disciplines and courses include,
- Vinyasa
- Restorative Asanas
- AcroYoga
- Yoga therapy
- Meditation
All levels of yogis are welcome to join any of the 250 member-only courses ranging from one hundred to over two hundred hours. Yoga International also has a library of over two hundred guided meditation and breathing classes.
If you like to research a little deeper, want to explore poses and their benefits a little more, or simply desire to engage in recent findings within the yoga world, members also have access to articles, podcasts, and tutorials.
Now let’s dive into the three best meditation courses on Yoga International!
Course 1: 40-Day Kirtan Kriya Meditation Challenge
This course offered for members is $129; this is on top of the regular monthly or annual membership fee. The Kirtan Kriya Meditation course will take two hours to finish. Upon completion, participants will obtain a certificate, two Continuing Education Units towards yoga certification hours, and unlimited course access.
Kirtan Kriya is a technique that stems from Kundalini yoga. This discipline of meditation aims to stimulate the brain and all the senses using a blend of finger movement and chanting. The instructor, Sierra Hollister, has been a studier of Kundalini yoga since 1992, and her passion for experiencing others’ healing and growth through yoga has always been her mission.
The course is broken down into segments; listed below is a short breakdown of what participants can expect.
| Days 1-9 | Defines Kirtan Kriya, how to practice, and a brief synopsis of what to expect |
| Days 10-19 | Breaks down why the practice is 40 days long and tips for success |
| Days 20-29 | Scientific research in regard to Kirtan Kriya meditation |
| Days 30-34 | Breakdown of mantras used during the meditation course |
| Days 35-39 | Explanation of mudras and their physical and energetic benefits |
| Day 40 | A full Kirtan Kriya meditation and completion requirements |
| Bonus | A LIVE Kirtan Kriya meditation |
By the end of this course, instructors will better understand the power this discipline of meditation can have on those who practice. Sierra Hollister states that Kirtan Kriya has the power to shape and refine consciousness and improve overall health in its practitioners.
Course 2: The Mystery and Power of Mantra
This course offered for members is $199; this is on top of the regular monthly or annual membership fee. The Mystery and Power of Mantra Meditation course will take eight hours to finish. Participants will obtain a certificate, eight Continuing Education Units towards yoga certification hours, and have unlimited access to the course upon completion.
During the Mystery and Power of Mantras-Guided Meditation and Relaxation course, participants will be educated on the healing power of mantras and learn how to quiet the energies within their minds. Mantras of the Himalayan tradition will be the focus, and the Japa practice of repeating mantras will be the tool used for meditations.
Rolf Sovik is the instructor for this course, the President/Spiritual Director of the Himalayan Institute, and a clinical psychologist in private practice. He has been a yoga instructor since 1972 and began his Himalayan pandit in 1987.
The course is broken down into five sections; a short breakdown of what participants can expect is listed below.
| Section 1 | Mantras: understanding their meaning, writing goals, and guided meditations |
| Section 2 | Practicing quieting the mind, learning mantras, breathwork |
| Section 3 | 61 point relaxation practice with Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra |
| Section 4 | How to use Mala, organize mantras, how Mala helps, and practices |
| Section 5 | Dynamics of mantra practice, understanding karma, guided practice |
By the end of this course, participants will have better knowledge of the role of mantras in meditation using Japa practice. Be able to identify different mantras and how they become a personal part of an individual’s practice. Create their own personal mantra in order to purify and sharpen their intellectual mind.
Course 3: Mindfulness Meditation Step-by-Step
This course offered for members is $129; this is on top of the regular monthly or annual membership fee. The Mystery and Power of Mantra Meditation course will take thirty hours to finish. Participants will obtain a certificate, thirty Continuing Education Units towards yoga certification hours, and have unlimited access to the course upon completion.
The Mindfulness Meditation Step-by-Step course is designed to be a five-day, five-lesson study at your own pace program. It is suggested, members work on this course in stages and return back to the previous lesson as well as incorporate the new lesson daily. Participants are encouraged to create goals and build an understanding that learning isn’t meant to be difficult or time-sensitive.
The instructor, Cyndi Lee, has been practicing yoga since 1978 and facilitating teacher courses since 1997. She is the founder of OH Yoga and a published author of the following books, “Yoga Body, Buddha Mind,” “May I Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Yoga,” and “Changing My Mind.”
The course is broken down into five days; a short breakdown of what participants can expect is listed below.
| Day 1 | Defining what is mindful meditation |
| Day 2 | Learning how to work with posture during meditation |
| Day 3 | Developing your specific reason for practicing meditation |
| Day 4 | Guided meditation on grounding touch |
| Day 5 | The practice of Maitri- loving-kindness practice |
By the end of this course, participants will have developed their reason for beginning meditation practice by understanding and practicing the three steps of mindful meditation and their benefits. Members will also have worked on modifying posture for more gentle and relaxing meditation practice and finally be able to become aware of challenging emotions that may arise while in meditation.
How Do I Get Started With Yoga International's Meditation Courses?
Getting started with Yoga International’s meditation course is as easy as choosing a membership and downloading the application on your computer, mobile device, or TV.
Once those steps are taken, it is then up to the participant to decipher their particular goals pertaining to their meditation study. Ensuring you create a safe and quiet space and allow a generous amount of time for your daily lessons is also crucial to reaping the full benefits of each course.
Outro
Meditation is just as personal as yoga itself. Both practices require a level of discipline, patience, and, most importantly, a good understanding of the basic fundamentals. Whether you have never practiced mediation or taken a course, it is always encouraged to do so with an open mind, joyous heart, optimism, and trust that your mind and body will lead the way.
